| Saturday, April 12, 2008 |
| Commercial Day Care Center Vs. Someone's Home |
he first thing to keep in mind is that you have the right to ask as many questions as you would like until you are comfortable leaving your child in any day care situation.
Three major categories that should be involved in making this decision are:
1. Policies on discipline, caring for sick children and other important issues.
2. Staff training in areas such as basic first aid, child development and identification of abused children.
3. Building and playground safety such as smoke alarms, electrical outlets and sharp corners.
In general I am comforted by the fact that there seem to be many more eyes on a commercial facility. I feel that they are held to higher standards. These standards include building maintenance, screening of employees, and training of employees. Also, the facilities themselves tend to be cleaner and more structured. They tend to focus on learning tools and toys. For instance a commercial day care center typically has multiple computer stations and a variety of educational computer software and games.
The argument of those who prefer daycare facilities run from someone’s home tend to focus on the comfort of the child being in a “homey” atmosphere. I feel there will inevitably be more distractions when the key person running the facility is in their own home. Phone calls, deliveries, neighbors and being concerned about the maintenance of the home on a personal level are all situations that could take time and attention away from the care of your child.
None the less, opinions will vary among parents and guardians. The very most important thing you can do regardless of whether you choose a commercial day care center or someone’s home is to make an informed decision that you feel comfortable with. Please use the categories above and make a list of your questions so that you are prepared when visiting potential day care providers. Hint: Other parents who have their children at the facility are a great source of information!
Article SourceLabels: Parenting
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posted by Khate @ 7:45 AM   |
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